BP’S $7,800,000,000 ($7.8 BILLION) SETTLEMENT FOR ECONOMIC AND PROPERTY DAMAGES HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE COURT. DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!

BP and the lawyers representing a large number of victims have reached a $7.8 BILLION out-of-court settlement over economic and property damages caused by the 2010 oil spill, delaying the trial that had been due to start on in March 2012. The amended Settlement Agreement was signed by U.S. Judge Carl Barbier and filed on May 3, 2012 approving the settlement.

Call us today so that you are not left behind and get the compensation you deserve! The deadline to opt-out of the economic settlement program is November 1, 2012.

Currently, we are accepting VOO claims, claims for Commercial Fisherman, claims for Recreational Fisherman, claims for Personal Lost Income and Business Lost Income, and claims for Owners of Waterfront Property.

WE ARE HOLDING MEETINGS ON THE MS GULF COAST TO DISCUSS OUR REPRESENTATION ON THESE CLAIMS.

We are holding a couple of meetings on the MS Gulf Coast to discuss our representation on the BP Oil Spill claims. You will need to bring the following information to the meeting if you would like us to represent you:

For all BUSINESS Economic Loss claims, please provide the following documents (these are required for you to make a claim):

FULL Federal & State TAX RETURNS for the years 2007-2011 (the Claims center requires full tax returns)

2007-2011 monthly profit and loss statements for the business

A copy of applicable business licenses (federal, state and local)

A copy of your business’ Articles of Incorporation

A copy of all credit card bills, purchase records, or other documents that help demonstrate your business’ economic loss

Social Security Card or Social Security Administration Disability Award Letter

If you are a COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN, please provide the following documents (these are required in order for you to make a claim):

FULL Federal & State tax returns from 2007-2011 are required.

2009-2010 SALTWATER FISHING LICENSE

ID (driver license, passport, SS card, military card, etc.)

Social Security Card or Social Security Administration Disability Award Letter

If you are NOT a U.S. Citizen, we need a copy of your Proof of Residency (i.e., electric bills, water bills, etc.)

If you are a RECREATIONAL Fisherman, please provide the following documents (these are required in order for you to make a claim):

2009-2010 SALTWATER FISHING LICENSE

ID (driver license, passport, SS card, military card, etc.)

Social Security Card or Social Security Administration Disability Award Letter

If you are NOT a U.S. Citizen, we need a copy of your Proof of Residency (i.e., electric bills, water bills, etc.)

If you are a VoO Worker/Captain, please provide the following documents (these are required in order for you to make a claim):

A copy of your current State issued identification (driver license, passport, etc.)

Social Security Card or Social Security Administration Disability Award Letter

If you are a VoO captain, we need FULL Federal & State tax returns from 2007-2011 (required)

A copy of the Master Vessel Charter Agreement between the vessel owner and BP.

Any proof in your possession that you worked as a VoO worker (pay stubs, licenses, etc.)

A copy of your PEC card and/or Contract(s)

W-2’s for the years 2007-2011 from your VoO employer (if you don’t have one, year-to-date check stubs)
If you are NOT a U.S. Citizen, we need a copy of your Proof of Residency (i.e., electric bills, water bills, etc.).

If you are a CLEAN-UP WORKER, please provide the following documents (these are required in order for you to make a claim):

A copy of your current State issued identification (driver license, passport, etc.)

Social Security Card or Social Security Administration Disability Award Letter

Any proof in your possession that you worked as a clean-up worker (pay stubs, licenses, etc.)

A copy of your PEC card and/or Contract(s)

W-2’s for the years 2007-2011 from your clean-up employer (if you don’t have one, year-to-date check stubs)

If you are NOT a U.S. Citizen, we need a copy of your Proof of Residency (i.e., electric bills, water bills, etc.).

If you own or owned a WATERFRONT PROPERTY, we need a copy of the following documents (these are required in order for you to make a claim):

Warranty Deed or Quitclaim Deed to the property

2010 Property Assessment Tax Form (received from the county estimating the value of your property)

Identification (driver license, passport, military card, etc.)

Social Security Card or Social Security Administration Disability Award Letter

One thing is certain: anyone who has been directly impacted by the Gulf oil spill should file a claim sooner rather than later, before the companies manage to somehow limit their liability and reduce their payouts. Individuals or businesses who wait too long to file a claim may find that the money is gone.

HISTORY OF THE SPILL

The BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April of 2010 has caused a lot of trouble for a lot of people. The Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded on April 20, 2010 on the BP Macondo Prospect, killing 11 workers and creating one of the most disastrous man-made environmental hazards in the history of the United States and largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. Crude oil flowed uncontrollably into the Gulf of Mexico for nearly three months. It is estimated that nearly 5 million barrels of crude oil flowed into the Gulf of Mexico until the wellhead was finally capped on July 15, 2010. The long-term impact of the Gulf Oil Spill is still being felt years later.
Thousands of people in a variety of professions have lost their income due to the BP oil spill, and that number is projected to grow. Fishing was temporarily banned in much of the Gulf while cleanup efforts were underway, making it impossible for people who make their living in seafood and fishing to work. The oil spill has also had a significant impact on tourism, drastically affecting people who work in the hospitality and tourism industry, particularly along Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and Florida's fragile coast, as oil washed up on resort beaches in large quantities. Condo owners, seafood companies and seafood company owners, residential homeowners and vacation rental companies have also been affected by this catastrophic event.

U.S. GOVERNMENT HOLDS BP, TRANSOCEAN AND HALLIBURTON ACCOUNTABLE IN ITS INVESTIGATIVE REPORT.

In September 2011, the U.S. government published its final investigative report regarding the BP oil spill disaster, stating that the main cause was a defective cement job. The report put the vast majority of the claim for this disaster on BP and found that the Deepwater Horizon operator Transocean and contractor Halliburton partly at fault.

British Petroleum / BP, Transocean (owner of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig leased to BP), and Halliburton (BP’s contractor for the faulty cement job) should be held responsible for this disaster.

OIL SPILLS HAVE LONG-TERM MISSISSIPPI IMPACT

The long-term damage from the Gulf oil spill is not yet fully evident. It may be months or years more before tourism returns to pre-oil-spill levels. Make no mistake - this has affected Mississippi's economy in general, in addition to the thousands of people it impacts directly on a daily basis through the loss of income—both personal income or business income.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS OF THE OIL SPILL

While the financial impact to Mississippi residents is very real, and urgent in the present day, the environmental hazards of the oil spill over the long term are potentially more dangerous, and more difficult to predict. The fragile wetlands along Mississippi's coastal region have been completely disrupted and largely destroyed by the oil spill. Their ecosystems have been disrupted as the environment is polluted and wildlife dies.

The Barrier Islands are also environmentally threatened due to the oil spill, and it's impossible to predict at this point the long-term impact on wildlife and the delicate coastal region. The oil could also pose human hazards, which have yet to be explored in any great detail.

CHOOSING A MISSISSIPPI OIL SPILL ATTORNEY

Oil spill litigation is a fairly new practice for most lawyers in the affected areas, but some precedent does exist. The key to getting the right oil spill lawyer to help you with your Mississippi oil spill case is to find a good lawyer.

Make no mistake - this oil spill will continue to impact Mississippi residents for years to come. The firm of Kobs & Philley, PLLC, is staffed with two experienced litigation attorneys, Jared A. Kobs and Benjamin N. Philley. Jared and Ben sympathize with people who are directly impacted by this oil spill, and we want to see you get the justice you deserve for your loss of income, and any other damages you or your business suffer as a result of this oil spill. Let our experienced litigators help you. Take advantage of our NO OBLIGATION, FREE CONSULTATION. Ask us questions. We will provide straight answers and explain what we can do for you and how we can help you during this stressful time. You can contact us online or call us today at 601-856-7800 or 1-877-856-0330 for a FREE CONSULTATION.